Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-02

erclsod all the afternoon with tue COM
position of letter, much longer than
the one quoted above, in which she set
forth at great length the many good rea-
sons she had had for acting during her
lovers absence as if he did not exist.
"Of course she said, cher affec-
ton for Monsieur Adolphe would never
equal the passionate love she had given
TO her old lover; but then the passion
had been foolish and reprehensible,
while her sentiments toward Monsieur
Adolphe were sanctioned by her guar
dams" &c.
When the letter had been carefully
read over and sealed she carried it out
and put il into the post with her own
hand. so that in due time il reached
poor Joel, apparently in answer to his
own.
When this was done Gabrielle felt
considerable load off her mind. Joel
was done with now. She must do her
best to avoid him, which would be easy
enough when the college reopened in
few weeks her marriage would put an
end to the difficult situation.
Her spirits rose at the thought that
she had so far set herself straight; she
was more inclined to be affectionate to
Monsieur Adolphe than she had ever
ielt before. But Monsieur Adolphe
seemed rather preoccupied that eve
ming, ut times even depressed; and
when Gabrielle ventured to ask him il
anything allied him he told her that he
had had letter which had worried him.
"Nothing serious, l hope ?" said Ga
brielle, feeling that her frances worries
must be her worries, too.
81 cannot say" returned Monsieur
Adolphe. I'm afraid it is serious !;
that is, to some one--I do not mean TO
myself.
If Monsieur Adolphe's eyes had been
large and beautiful instead of small and
uninteresting Gabrielle might have no.
ticed their plaintive expression as he
looked into her face.
at is a friend of mine-a man |
know very well-a person | am much
attached to-" he continued, with
warmth quite unusual to him, "who is
in a very sad position just now. He
would like me to go to Paris and be
with him for the next week or so"
"And shall you go?' asked Ga
brielle, somewhat surprised to hear for
the first time of friend who had so
much hold on her fance's feelings.
"Oh, yes; l shall certainly go, with
all possible haste. shall take the
early train tomorrow from Cahors.
Perhaps / ought to have made the
effort to go tonight, but L wanted to
talk to you first.
"And who's he, this friend of yours p?
Have you known him a long time ?"
eyes, | have known him for ages
not so well as / might have known
him, but as well as anybody does. He's
rather queer fellow to manage, and |
gave him some bad advice not long
ago that's what has brought him into
trouble. You see, | must stand by
him."
II suppose you must" replied Ga
brille. "And what is there you can
do for him Is he in money trouble,
or what ?"
"Well," said Monsieur Adolphe,
lowering his tone and watching her
closely. cts an affair of the heart,
and very delicate matter. Naturally,
| know but little about such matters,
, and few weeks ago l knew even less
( so was a bad counsellor, and / am
) chiefly to blame for the hobble my
= friend has got himself into"
r Dear me !" exclaimed Gabrielle
D 81 had no idea you had ever helped
t with matchmaking. You do astonish
, me
l 81 astonished myself" he replied
t with grim smile. 81 fancied wa
doing something so praiseworthy, but
. | wasn't. You will scarcely believe
e me when I say that was totally de
| ceivod. OF course in my profession
i. and with my experience of hfe,
=. don't like to feel | have been imposed
c upon"
Y "But how were you imposed on?
i can't make out clearly what the story
a is or what you have to do with it."
!. "Unfortunately, / can't tell you the
t whole story. 1t wouldn't do to betray
. my friends confidence. But am SURF
G you would pity him from your heart i
you knew how bitterly he is disap
r pointed in the woman I-he-that IS
1 persuaded him TO propose to. Luckily
: he has found ont all the mischief before
{ it is too late, and am going to Pari
| TO break off his engagement for him
e What he wanted falling in loveso madly
at his time Of life | can't imagine. L
o will cost him many a miserable hour
| but he has some sense left, and he pre-
e fers to suffer this sharp wrench than t.
tie himself for life 10 woman who hal
T. no idea Of truth or constancy."
g Perhaps he is right" said Ga
S brielle, "but l am not sure. OF course
i no woman can be faultess perhaps h'
a is over severe
: "No, he isn't-no, he isn't" re
u turned Monsieur Adolphe. 81 told
s you be is rather odd, but he's quit,
). right about this. | dare say nine mer
G out Of ten would have taken it philo
sophically. He is the tenth. and he
s can't.
e I'm awfully sorry for him" sale
y Gabrielle. 81 hope he'll soon get owe
t it,"
J. "Thank you-on his behalf. III tel
r him you are sorry for him. I'm sur
: he will value your sympathy"
n "And you go early tomorrow morn
u ing ?"
b Eyes" answered Monsieur Adolph
r very sadly, "quite early-so / will sa,
# goodbye tonight.
r "And when shall you come back !?
e "Come back-ah yes-yes-I mus
It write to you and tell you all about that
i now, adieu."
/ Then Monsieur Adolphe, who durinI
his strictly Gallo courtship had no
d ventured on such familiarity, dreV
Gabrielle's face toward him and press
G ed his first and last kiss on her lips.
u The promised letter from Paris wa
n not long in coming. It's contents wer
very startling. This was how Monsieu
II Adolphe amplifed his friends story:
o You must forgive me when 1 comics
It that was speaking in parallels at on
V last conversation. The difficulties
+ spoke of were real, but the friend wa
imaginary. The deception was prsC
Il ticed on me in propria persona. Til
|, engagement to be broken is the ON
It which has existed between you and me
is 1 will bear any blame you choose ;
n lay upon me, rather than fulfil that en-
eagement, since / know that you wer
J. already bound by your own free choic
N whom Won accented my offer of mar